US Segetis to expand solvent, non-phthalate plasticiser capacity

TORONTO (ICIS)--Segetis is expanding capacity for its solvent and non-phthalate plasticiser products in the ?xml:namespace>US, the Minnesota-based biochemicals firm said on Wednesday.

Segetis said the expansion at a site in the US upper midwest was for “several million pounds”, with completion expected this summer.

The expansion project came after the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had cleared registration of five of its products, Segetis said. Those products were now eligible for listing under the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), it added.

Company spokesman Brian Tockman told ICIS the expansion was in response to “strong market interest” from customers in such industries as cleaning, personal care, building materials and automotive.

He said his company would not disclose the site’s exact location, and it would not comment on how capacity was being expanded or what the costs were.

In 2009, Segetis announced the start-up of a 250,000 lb/year (113 tonne/year) biofuel conversion facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to produce green chemicals.

Last year, Dutch chemicals major DSM took an equity interest in Segetis. Segetis had developed renewable chemistry based on non-food agricultural and forestry feedstock, DSM said at the time.

Also last year, Segetis announced an agreement with US polymer firm PolyOne to develop bio-based plasticisers.

Segetis was founded in 2006. It employs a staff of 25 and a number of contractors and consultants, Tockman said.